Fabric and method of making the same



1,464,715 E.- F. KING 7 SAME FABRIC AND METHOD OF MAKING THE Filed Nov. 16, 1 920 Y ,Zizasw/FrgJ Patented Aug. 14, 1923.

FABRIC AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

Application filed Noyember 16, 1920. serial No. 424,492.

7 '0 all whom z't-may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. KING, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fabrics and Methods of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to rubberized fab- 10 rics adapted for use in tires, shoe heels and for other purposes.

In such fabrics it has heretofore been customary to apply the rubber element exclusively to "the exterior of the constituent strandsof the fabric which has resultedin an insufiicient and irregular application of the rubber and a consequent lack of adhe siveness of thestrands and a want of ten-- 'sile strength in the resultant fabric. The

i usual methods of applying the rubber to the strands has also rendered the fabric siirface sticky and difiicult to handle prior to the stage of vulcanization. v f The essential. objects of my invention are to overcome the enumerated disadvantages and to 'cheapen construction, and prevent peeling of the rubber, and prevent chafing of the strands. 4 v

To the above ends essentially my invention consists in such parts, and msuch combinations of parts, and in'such steps, and

in such successions of steps as fall within thescope of ti 2 appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention there is shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this' specification, the form thereof at present preferred although the various steps and instrumentalities of which my invention con- 40 sists may be variously performed and embodied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a broken away portion of a length of sheather strand, Figure 2, a longitudinal central section of three strand portions assembled side by side before compressing,

Figure 3, a like section of the same after compression, '50 Figure 4, a section on line 4-4 of Figure Figure 5, a plan view of a section of the complete fabric.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

The 'shofwing of the drawings is for illustrative. 5 purposes largely diagrammatical, and the constituent parts'of the fabric are exaggerated in thickness and conventionalized. 4

In carrying out my invention a core 10 of soft rubber of any desired cross sectional outline is loosely surrounded in a textile casing or sheath 11. This casing may be either a woven or braided fabric but superior results are attained by the latter. In

the braided sheath, as shown in Figure 1,

the constituent strands 13 diagonally cross each other, passing alternately over and under each other successively in themanner characteristic of a bralded fabric to form.

the tube.- As usual in a braid the fabric strands adjacent their points of crossing each other are necessarily not in as close contact with each other as elsewhere. This results in interstices 14 at these points. The resultant interstices in a woven fabric while present are less pronounced,

After encasing the rubber core or strand 10 in its sheath, several lengths of the structure shown in Figure 1 are arranged side by side, as shown in Figure 2, and then compressed between two flat plates or dies while being subjected to heat sufliciently intense to liquefy the cores 10. The liquid rubber of the cores during this operation exudes outwardly through the sheaths ll'including the interstices 14, and broadens and flattens the lengths. The rubber thus not only fills the interstices as at l6 but the exuded liquid forms films or skins 18 upon the upper and lower faces of the resultant fabric, and de posits material 20 in the spaces between the flattened sheath, and material exterior of the exposed sides of the sheaths.

After the heat and pressurc have been discontinued therubber hardens and completes the fabric strip 24 shown inFigure A tire, heel, or sheet of the fabric, may be built up of any desired number of layers or units inany usual or approvedmvay, but preferably with the sheathed cores crossed in alternation. Such a built up structure has the characteristics of the single-ply fabric shown; that is to say, the sheath and core are intimately united in every direction by reason of the ready permeability of the sheath and the plasticity of the core under heat and pressure, so that not only the adjacent units but also those superposed are completely end finseperabl tied or bound together,"in a thorough yLhomo'g enized state.

B, the useher'ein-ofthe Word flatfend' its erivatives,"Idon't meanto lim 1t the r invention to the shape ofthe product, since I I the sameinlparal yobviousl the invention is capable of use in articles aving a great yuriety of shapes. '1 claim.:'

1'. The'herein' described method of iorur' ing. a fabric consisting in enclosing a; soft rubber corein e permeable, interstitial textile sheath, arran ing a series of lengths of felism 'adjaicent eech-othet and subjecting the thus arranged lengths to heat and pressure and thereby softening the homo eneous fabric. g

p 1 2. he herein" described method of form core and spreadingv its Substance through the sheath and uniting the Iengths'iu a.

a'fabrie wnsisting in' surrounding esoft' 1n rubber core with a braided sheath provided with interstices'between-its strands, a'ssem bli'ngfa' pluralit'ylof lengths of the same side by side, andv finally subjecting the assemblylfl 1 wheat end pressure and thereby difi'using" the plastie -core through the. interstices an uniting the assembled lengths in a homogen'eous mass.

. 3. The herein described method ofform ing a fabric consisting in braiding loosely around a continuous soft rubberfco're a fabric sheath, separating the same into lengths; assembling the lengths side b side,

softening the rubber-core by heat, an 7 compressing the len' the to force the material of .the cores throng the'edjucent sheaths and "form a continuous'rubber external covering- 5.-In a fabric eplurality of lengths ml prisingsoft rubber cores and "bra1ded,,-permeable, sheaths surrounding the coresend provided with interstices, and a, softrubber calsing surrounding thesh'eeths and con nectedwith the cores through the interstices.

' In testimony whereof signature. EDWARD F; KING. 

